Man, 50, charged in widespread home-repair fraud: Police

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A man wanted in connection with a wide-ranging fraud investigation involving home repairs that were never done was arrested after a traffic stop, local Ontario Provincial Police say.

Officers with the OPP’s Elgin County detachment have charged a 50-year-old from Dawn-Euphemia – a township in Lambton County – with seven counts of fraud under $5,000 and police say a man offered to repair chimneys, in each case took a cash deposit of $200 and then didn’t complete the work.

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Police say it was Jan. 8 when officers were called to a home in West Lorne, southwest of London in Elgin County, as part of the investigation. They determined several people had been defrauded of $10,000 in several Southwestern Ontario communities including Petrolia, St. Clair Township, Brooke-Alvinston, Southwest Middlesex, Dawn-Euphemia and also near Belleville, in Quinte West, police said.

It was May 23, last Thursday, when officers stopped a vehicle on Highway 12 in Orillia, police said, adding the driver was arrested and transferred to Elgin OPP’s custody.

The accused is scheduled to appear in court in St. Thomas on June 18.

Police are urging anyone who believes they may be a victim of fraud to contact them at 1-888-310-1122.

Teen charged after cyclist forces Hwy. 401 shutdown

A teenager is charged after Ontario Provincial Police say a person rode a bicycle along Hwy. 401 near London on Sunday morning.

Middlesex OPP say officers had to shut down the 401 at Wonderland Road at about 11:35 a.m. “in order to get the individual off the road safely,” police said.

A 16-year-old from Southwest Middlesex has been charged with riding a bicycle on a controlled-access highway. The youth has been released and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario provincial traffic court at a later date, police said.

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It is illegal for pedestrians and cyclists to be on 400-series highways, as well as on- and off-ramps, police said.

Teenage boys charged over clash

Two teenage boys are charged following a weekend clash in Tecumseh Park in Chatham, police say.

Police say they received reports shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday about a disturbance at Tecumseh Park. An initial report stated about 50 people were involved in a fight at the downtown park, possibly involving weapons.

The dust-up came amid RetroFest, an annual classic car show in the city’s downtown including in the park. 

Police said descriptions of two individuals involved were provided to officers.

Two suspects were located on Wellington Street and one was seen tossing an item before being arrested, police said. The item was recovered and identified as mace, police said.

No injuries were reported, police said.

A 16-year-old Chatham youth is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon, police said. A 14-year-old Chatham youth is charged with causing a disturbance, police said.

Both were released to their parents with conditions and a June 24 court date.

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